Edmonton Tourism and Hospitality Industries Commit to GBAC STAR™ Accreditation

EDMONTON, AB.—March 10, 2021—Explore Edmonton, the visitor economy and venue management organization for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has announced a collaborative initiative to pursue city- wide GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.

The collaborative effort includes Edmonton International Airport; Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels (EDMH), which oversees 38 properties across the city; Rogers Place; the Oilers Entertainment Group; and the already-accredited Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre.

“Edmonton’s tourism, hospitality, and events industries will play an important role in our region’s post- COVID-19 recovery, getting people back to work, welcoming travelers back to the city, and delivering important economic and social benefits to our region,” said Maggie Davison, acting CEO of Explore Edmonton. “Edmonton’s GBAC STAR Accreditation will ensure our international airport, major venues, and hotels are all working toward the same standards for cleanliness and outbreak prevention. By working in partnership, Edmonton can safely reopen for business and provide one of the safest travel experiences in North America, from arrival to departure.”

To obtain GBAC STAR Accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with 20 specific elements including maintaining strict cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, infectious disease prevention planning, staff training, and more. Once complete, Edmonton will be the first and only Canadian destination to obtain the GBAC STAR™ Accreditation and one of only two destinations throughout North America.

“The pursuit of GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation by various venues in Edmonton is a testament to the city’s commitment to making cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention an ongoing priority for its citizens and visitors,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Through the GBAC STAR accreditation, they show their commitment to their communities by implementing a higher level of cleaning.”

Learn more and apply for GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation at gbac.org/star.

About GBAC, a Division of ISSA Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance, and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address, and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR facility

accreditation program, training and certification of individuals, and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.

About ISSA With more than 9,300 members – including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members – ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call (800) 225-4772 (North America) or (847) 982-0800. For information on ISSA’s Canadian division, ISSA Canada, visit http://www.issa- canada.com or call (866) 864-8273 or (905) 665-8001.

About MediaEdge Communications For more than 25 years, MediaEdge has been at the forefront of communication solutions for organizations within a variety of business sectors. MediaEdge is a leading provider of non-dues revenues for associations offering exceptional no-cost member benefits through a number of innovative products and services. Find out more by visiting www.mediaedge.ca.

MediaEdge is a proud reseller of the GBAC STAR and GBAC fundamentals online course. Please see the program details and links below and remember to use the promo codes when registering as they provide discounts.

1. Commercial facility owners looking for GBAC STAR accreditation can follow the link here.

2. ISSA has also released a new GBAC fundamentals online course specifically designed for cleaning workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight. Please click here to register and receive a discount off normal prices.

For additional program details and information, please email [email protected] or contact him at (416) 803-4653.